Method of and apparatus for curing inner tubes



March 25 19,24.

, w. c. STATE y METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR- CURING NNER TUBES Filed Aug. 16, 1920 W11!! G Sfafe Patented Mur, 1924.

il i

WILL C. STATE, 0F AKRON, GHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 TEE GODYEAR TIRE @t RUBBER (lO-III.- PANY, 0F AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

METHOD 0F ND APPARATUS FOR CURING INNER TUBES.

Application led August 16, i920. Serial No. 403,728.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILL C. STATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit .and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Methods of and Apparatus for Curing Inner Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of inner tubes for tire casings, and it has for its primary object, the provision of a method of and apparatus for curing inner tubes which shall insure the production of a uniform product in an expeditious manner.

One of the most commonly known methods of curing inner tubes has been practiced by disposing the inner tube upon a straight mandrel, or core, after which it was wrapped by winding a strip of fabric tightly about the tube to completely' cover it.

The wrapped tube and its core was then l practical standpoint, it is o pen to criticisml disposed in a suitable heating chamber where heat was applied to cure the rubber forming the tube. v

Ilthough the above described method pro- (luces tubes which are satisfactory from a becausethe method is tedious and time consuming. The method, furthermore, 1s eiracting because it is diiicult to obtain a uniform pressure by wrapping the fabric about it after it has been disposed upon the mandrel.

i One of the objects of my present invention resides in the provision of al method which shall require a minimum amount of labor in the curing of inner tubes, and which shall facilitate the proper disposal of lthe inner tube preparatory to curin it. j

A still further object o my invention is to provide a device for curing inner tubes` 1n which the necessary amount of ,pressure may be transmitted to the inner tube um vformly over its entire surface with little carebeing exercised on the part of-the workmen.

With these and other objects in view, my

l invention will be more fully described, illus strated in `the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and then more fully pointed out in the claims. Y

InY ,the drawings, Figure l is a longituv dinal sectional View., 'parts being broken away, 'of a deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention.

vide a device for curing inner tubes by employing a tubular member, preferably a metallic tubulaimember, which is adapted to have its ends closed by a plurality of similarly formed members` which are removably secured within the ends of the tubular member.

In addition to the casing thus provided I may employ an expansible bag which is `adapted to it within the tubular member and about which the tube that it is desired to cure ma be disposed.

In or er to insure a clear understanding of my invention a molding device is shown in Figure 1 comprising a tubular member I, which has been mentioned as preferably formed of a suitable metal. The tubular member is provided, adjacent its open ends, with slots 2 of L-shape, each of which is adapted to receive a pin 3 secured to an end closing member il. As shown in the drawings, eacli of the end closing lmembers 4 is circular in cross section and is adapted to fit within the ends of the tubular member l. Each member 4 is provided with a flanged portion 5 which engages the end of the tube 1 and provides a tight joint therebetween.

It will be appreciated that the tube l may be closed at its ends by inserting one of the end closing members, 4 in each end by di posing the pin 3 in the base of the slot-2 and turning the end member to cause the pin to engage the end wall of the slot, thus securing the end member against displacement in a ongitudinal direction.

One of the end members is preferably rovided with a central opening 5 adaptel to" receive avvalve-stem 6 of an eXpansible bag 7. The bag is preferably of such diameter as to be adapted to dt within the tubular member 1 and allow sudicient space for the insertion of an inner tube 8, which itis desired to cure.

It will be ap reciated that the dimensions of the expansible bag and its casin 1 are governed' by the vsize of the inner tu e it is desired to cure. The expansible bag is referably of such diameter as to permit ed) dispostionv'is insured before cure it.

posing the inner tube it is desired *to-cure about it so that it rits snugiy ti'iereon5 While the bag is in e deieted condition. The has; of course is formed of any suitable materia., such es impregnated or frictioned fabric, or siternete loyers of fabric end rubber.

In curing un inner tube by utilizing the above described device, the tube is properly disposed upon the deiated bag 7, which is thenplaced Within thesubular member l, which, of course, .has et least one of its ciosing end members 4C removed. The end inem bersere then disposed in piace and the bag i is ineted hy utilizing air or steam, eocordiiig to the nimmer in which it is desired to apply the heat to cure the tube.

it Wiii be appreciated that the ex mnsibic bog may he iniiated with air to compress the inner tube between the bug; and the easing' i, and the assembied device may he disposed in a suitable heating chamber where heet 'may he applied through the memberl. 0n the other hand the device may he utiiized not eniy to obtain the desired pressure upon the inner tube, but also to transmit the desired heat for curing the tube. This muy be accompiished by iniisting the expensibie bag with steam, which serves to :ippiy the ne^- essary pressure as weii as the heut to the inner tube It will be apparent that the device :i-bove described may be operated by workmen moderately skilled in 'the ort with little difficulty, and with u certainty of producing a uniform product.- A uniform product is insured because uniform pressure is applied to the tube, and since it een only be disposed in the device in one position its groper disheat is applied to It 'will be apparent furthermore,

that the number of. operations necessary in :i ,sessies finishing; the tube are reduced to e minimum, which of course introduces :i saving' in cost b reduome 'the time' of reduction.

Although have shownl and described e i5 construction oi the device and in the manner PU of manipulating it without departing frein the spirit or scope oiniy invention, and 'I desire therefore that no limitations sheil be imposed except such :isere indicated Iin lthe appended claims. I

1. ii method of curing inner tubes that comprises disposinxr tho tube on im expan sible bug. placing the begr und the tube. in u casing und infmtinir the beg with steam to, apply pressure to the tube and heut Ato cure is 2. A device for curing inner tuheseom- 'irising' a tubular member having removable end closing' menioers and en expensioie or bug adapted to fit within the tubuierniemv her. i t 53. A, device for curing; inner tubes omni prising u tubular member having removsoie end closing men'ioers, one oit' ii'hiciris pro# vided with it vulve receiving; opening, and. un expansiole bag having a. valve adapted to fit within the tubuier member with itsQveivey extending through the end closing meniber.

n Witness whereof, I'have hereunto si ned my nume in. the presence of two subscri ing witi'iesses.`

I '.WLL C. STATE.

'Witnesseszw J. m'rims,

L. M. HAQTMAI. 

